Edibles in containers
Strawberries don’t just look pretty cascading over the edge of pots, tubs and planter boxes. They thrive - because perfect drainage is essential if you want to grow strawberries successfully. Plus, they’re less likely to suffer slug or disease damage when grown above ground level.
Growing beautiful strawberries
Strawberries need lots of food and water. Water is critical when the flowers and then fruits are developing. Because the plants have shallow roots, it is important to keep the soil moist, but this also means they are suitable for growing in quite shallow containers – such as old guttering.
Choose a sunny site. Strawberries need 6-10 hours of direct sunlight each day. A layer of pea straw makes excellent mulch as it keeps the fruit clean, conserves moisture and blocks weeds, which will rob your plants of precious water and nutrients and encourage disease.
When planting, take care not to bury the crown. This is the area where roots meet leaves and it should be right at the soil surface. Fruit is ready to eat 4–6 weeks after the flowers appear. Use netting to keep the birds off!
More edibles for containers
Vegetables
Potatoes
Kumara
Lettuces
Microgreens
Herbs
Garlic and shallots
Capsicum
Chillies
Eggplants
Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Silverbeet
Kale
Fruit
Apples - dwarf varieties including ‘Ballerina’
Apricots, peaches and nectarines – dwarf varieties
Lemons
Limes
Mandarins
Oranges
Figs
Olives
Berries
Fresh good quality planting mix plus regular watering and feeding are essential ingredients when growing fruit or veges in containers. Containers need to be at least 50cm wide and deep to accommodate a fruit tree. Regular watering and feeding is essential.
31-Aug-2015
Strawberries in pot
Lettuces & herbs in a variety of containers
In the Garden
